440 likes | 446 Views
Achieve your financial goals with this comprehensive mobilization kit for military and reserves. Set clear goals, reduce credit card debt, create a budget, and learn about investment options, insurance coverage, and tax strategies.
E N D
Achieving Your Financial Goals • • Set clear goals • • Resolve to spend less • • Create an emergency fund • • Make saving a priority
Achieving Your Financial Goals • Reduce credit card debt • • Evaluate your insurance coverage • • Think taxes
Creating a Budget • Your financial plan • Track income and expenses • Unique to you
Budgeting • • Gross monthly income • • Net income • • Fixed expenses • • Flexible expenses
Budgeting • • Discretionary expenses • • Total it up • • Increase your savings • • Programs like Quicken can help
Danger of Credit Cards – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You • Be aware of teaser rates • Stick with one credit card • Pay in full every month
Danger of Credit Cards – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You • Pay on time • Avoid cash advances • Protect your credit history
Danger of Credit Cards – What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You • • Stay within the limit • • Review your statements • • Report a lost or stolen card immediately • • Protect personal information
Savings and Investing –10 Simple Strategies • • Start small • • Contribute to your retirement plan • • Save through payroll deduction plans • • Set up an automatic investment plan • • Round up your mortgage
Savings and Investing –10 Simple Strategies • • Bank your raises • • Keep paying off a loan • • Pay off your credit cards • • Reinvest dividends • • Keep track of where the money goes
Investing in Your Future • • Asset Allocation • Stocks • Bonds • Cash Equivalents
Investing in Your Future • • Asset allocation • • Diversification • • Life circumstances • • Investment goals, timeframe and tolerance
Investment Options • Short-Term Investments • CD • Money Market Funds • Savings Account
Investing in Your Future • • Long-Term Investments • Mutual Funds • Stock • Bonds
Investing in Your Future • • Retirement Specific Investments • 401(k) • IRA • Social Security
Protecting Yourself & Your Family Through Insurance • • Life insurance • Choosing coverage • How much can you afford? • How much is needed? • For how long? • Protection or investment?
Term vs. Permanent • • Term • Largest death benefit for the dollar • Annual renewable and level premium • Return-of-premium
Term vs. Permanent • Permanent • Combines a death benefit with an investment • Part of the premium is invested, building cash value • Higher premiums • Whole life, universal or variable life
Term vs. Permanent • • Whole life • • Universal life • • Variable life
Health Insurance • • Don’t go bare • •HMOs • • PPOs • • POS
Health Insurance • • Flexible Spending Accounts • COBRA • Medicare • Medicaid
Long-Term Disability Insurance • • Benefit Amount • Term of Benefits • Elimination Period • Non-cancelable • Guaranteed Renewables • Own Occupation or Any Occupation
Government-sponsored Disability Benefits • • Workers’ Compensation • Social Security Disability • Veterans Benefits • Federal Employees Retirement System
Insurance for Reservists • 2004 Temporary Reserve Health Benefit Program • www.tricare.osd.mil • Who is affected? • Reservists • National Guard • Delayed-effective date or immediate • 30 consecutive days • Support contingency operation
Insurance for Reservists • What are my benefits? • Is my family covered? • Keep your other coverage • TRICARE Prime vs. TRICARE Standard
Fighting for Your Country:A Guide to Living Overseas • Housing options • Station allowance overseas • Overseas housing allowance • Move-in housing allowance • Rates • Rent • Security
A Guide to Living Overseas • Cost of Living Allowance • Temporary Lodging Allowance • Interim Housing Allowance • Evacuation Allowance
Combat pay Moving expenses Per diem Car allowances Legal assistance Medical and dental care Life insurance Living allowances Educational expenses Death expenses Defense counseling Disability Survivor and retirement protection Roundtrip travel for dependents once a year Overseas Deductions
Guide to Living Overseas • How do I file my tax return? • VITA • (800) 829-1040
Before Being Called to Duty • Build up savings • Create a financial plan • Identify a trusted family member • Contact creditors • Know military-provided help • Contact life insurance carrier
During Active Duty • Financial protection • Bars evictions • Prevents default judgments • Stays civil proceedings • Caps interest rates • Stick to your budget
After Active Duty • Problems won’t go away • Achieving your financial goals • Creating a budget • Danger of credit cards
Get Tax Smart • Get credit for care • Make retirement plan contributions • Improve your recordkeeping • Plan your investment gains
Get Tax Smart • Give away some assets • Use your vacation home wisely • Get advice early
Maximizing Your Military Tax Benefits • Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 • Capital gain exclusion for home sales • Overnight travel • Dependent care assistance • Combat zone extension • Death benefits • Additional exclusions
A Guide to Your Retirement Benefits • Start with VA • Education benefits • Troops to Teachers • VetFran • Priority hiring • Job training and placement • Educational assistance
Retirement Benefits • Disability compensation • Veterans pensions • Free or low-cost medical care • Computing retirement pay • Pre-1980 • Post-1980
Retirement and Insurance • Schedule a physical • Get a certified copy of medical records • Specific health programs • Agent Orange and other herbicides • Alcohol/drug dependency treatment • Blind veterans services • Gulf War Syndrome • Radiation exposure • Life insurance
Veterans Act of 2003 • Increases specially adapted housing grants • Increases specially adapted automobile grants • Increases educational benefits • Encourages entrepreneurship